Books I Love

There are certain subjects that fascinate me so completely and so deeply that I could read and talk about them 24 hours a day and look for an extra couple of hours at the end. American History, baseball, the life of Jesus, cooking, the Old Testament, cats, animals/birds, Harriet Tubman, Abraham Lincoln, Ancient Egypt, and Angels are just a few of these fascinations that my soul is saturated with. So, trust me, if it has been written about any of these subjects, I’ve read it – and, usually re-read it many times over.

I have read countless books and articles about angels and recently had the joyful opportunity to add to my mental and Spiritual library. I finished reading The Hum of Angels: Listening for the Messengers of God Around Us by Scot McKnight this morning and didn’t want to wait another minute before encouraging you to get your hands on this book. It is one of the best books I’ve ever read about angels and I know it’ll stay with me for a lifetime.

I also know it’s going to be one of those “many times over” books, so I’ve told it to get accustomed to my perfume, gypsy bracelets, and coffee breath.

I take an active part in the Blogging for Books program (linked to at the bottom of this review). I am able to choose a different book to read/review after each completed review. When I saw The Hum of Angels available, I nearly pulled a muscle in my arm submitting my request. My limbs simply aren’t accustomed to quick movements – they think it might be that thing they’ve heard of called “exercise” and they panic.

True story: I actually began reading the book as soon as it came in the mail. As in, before I even got inside with it. Have I mentioned that the subject of Angels fascinates me?

Let me make one thing perfectly clear, however – I do not, in any way, worship them or hold them in an esteem on plane with the esteem I have for God, Himself. Or His Son or the Holy Spirit. I do, however, find them uncommonly fascinating and hold them in esteem.

Taking second place to the Trinity, I am certain, does not offend these Heavenly beings.

Like many people, I don’t just “believe” in Angels, I accept them completely as a part of life as much as I do teachers, baristas, Preachers, and authors. I’ve read about them all my life in the Bible and have even experienced them in my own life.

Would You Recognize an Angel if You Saw One?

The majority of earth’s inhabitants believe in angels. Yet many of us cannot claim to have seen one. Why?

Perhaps it’s because in order to encounter one, we first have to learn what to look for and how to look! We live in a world where the natural and supernatural overlap. Angels are constantly on mission from God and constantly at work in the world.

From the Garden of Eden to the book of Revelation, Scripture is filled with hundreds of references to these wondrous creatures. In this creative work, Scot McKnight explores what the Bible says—and doesn’t say—about these majestic beings.

And that’s deeply important, because angels are still on mission today. They express God’s love, confirm his presence, and even lead humans in redemptive worship. Don’t just believe in angels. Learn how to recognize these messengers of God that are all around us, and know how God might be using them to affect our lives.

Most People Believe in Angels.It’s What we Believe About them that Matters.

Believing in angels is one thing. But how can we know what angels are really like – especially when our preconceived notions have been mostly shape by sensationalized misinterpretations of these wondrous beings?

To help sort things out, Scot McKnight untangles fact from fiction on topics such as:
* Do loved ones become angels when they die?
* Can we hear from angels?
* Is there a hierarchy of angels?
* Do we have a specific guardian angel?
* Should we be scared of angels?
* Are cherubs and seraphs different creatures than angels?
* Do angels have wings?
* Are angels worship leaders?

The Hum of Angels illuminates what the Bible says about these heavenly beings and helps you to understand the deepest truths about one of God’s most magnificent and yet misunderstood creations.

Why You’re Going to Love The Hum of Angels

When I meet an author that I connect with – one who instantly becomes a favorite, even after one book, I make a vow to read everything they’ve ever written. Given the fact that Scot McKnight is a very prolific author, I’ve got my work cut out for me…. and I couldn’t be more excited!

The Hum of Angels isn’t just a wonderful, rich education on the history and ministry of Angels, it is an inspirational and fascinating book to lose yourself in. Let’s face it, the world today isn’t always a reasonable place in which to hang out – I can’t remember a time in my life when I’ve ever found so much solace and comfort and RELIEF in escaping with a great book. The Hum of Angels was a beautiful and especially rewarding escape.

Whether (like me), through Bible reading and study, you already have a good understanding of Angels or they are fairly new to you – this is a book and this is an author you’re going to love.

One of the things I enjoyed the most was the author’s humor. At one point, a Cubs comment made this St. Louis Cardinal fanatic laugh out loud. My cat thought I’d lost it – then I explained the joke to her and she understood.

See The Hum of Angels for more information and to order your own copy today. This is an absolutely beautiful book to add to your library.

Note: I received this book from the Blogging for Books program in exchange for this review. The opinions are entirely my own. With Blogging for Books, you are able to select the book(s) you want to read/review and when I saw this particular book, I JUMPED at the chance!

31 Verses to Write on Your Heart is a beautiful collection of favorite Bible verses – collected from over 1,000 women. Accompanying the collection of inspiring and uplifting verses are Liz Curtis Higg’s beautiful (and deliciously witty) stories, words and thoughts. The reader is given perfect illustrations of each Bible verse as it jumps out of the Bible and into your life.

I think that’s the heart of having favorite Bible verses. They are almost always words that spoke to us when we needed them most. One of my personal favorite verses is Jeremiah 33:3, “Call unto me and I will answer thee and shew thee great and mighty things which thou knowest not.” (KJV) When my three girls were very young, my dad was in extremely bad health. We knew it wasn’t a matter of “if” he was dying, but “when.” My girls and I packed up our homeschooling books and made the long drive each day from Madisonville to Owensboro (KY), where he was in the hospital.

If you’ve never watched someone you love greatly slowly die, I hope you never do. It’s… well, there doesn’t seem to be a word strong enough for what it is. Even “agonizing” doesn’t seem to cover it.

One night as I was stacking up the books the girls would need to carry with them the next morning, I just laid across the bed and let the tears fall where they may. Since the last thing I wanted my daughters or husband, for that matter, to see was me having a “moment and a half,” I dried my eyes, grabbed my Bible and flung it open – figuring I’d just begin reading wherever my red eyes happened to land.

I “landed” here in Jeremiah 33:3 – “Call unto me and I will answer thee and shew thee great and mighty things which thou knowest not.” Here’s the thing about Bible verses – often, one verse speaks to one person differently than it does the next person. Why? Because God often has something different to say to each of us!

When I read that verse, it was as though God was meeting me right where I was and telling me to be strong… happier days are ahead and my dad’s suffering and our heartbreak would not last forever. When I closed my Bible (after highlighting the verse and writing it both on the calendar I carried in my purse AND on my heart), I realized something that I have never forgotten – when you keep your eyes on God (“Call unto me”), He will always be there for you (“I WILL answer thee”). What’s more, He will lead, teach, and instruct you (“shew thee great and mighty things”), even if you can’t, for the life of you, see them yourself (“which though knowest not.”)

From the Back Cover:

Let His Truth Find a Home in Your Heart
Here are the words of hope you’re looking for when your faith needs a boost or a friend needs encouragement. Chosen by more than a thousand women as their favorite verses in the Bible, each one is worth learning, worth sharing, worth remembering,

You’ll find verses you already know and love: “I can do all this through him who gives me strength” (Philippians 4:13). Others may be less familiar but are no less powerful: “Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe” (Proverbs 29:25). All of them capture the truth of God’s goodness, mercy, and love for His own.

Best-selling author Liz Curtis Higgs invites you to experience—
* a deeper, richer understanding of thirty-one treasured verses.
* a fresh look at how these timeless truths can impact your life.
* a new passion for memorizing Scripture, verse by verse.
* thirty-one creative ways to keep them in your heart forever.

With a study guide included, 31 Verses to Write on Your Heart is a daily devotional and a small-group Bible study, wrapped in a lovely gift book overflowing with joy!

Each Bible verse comes with “His Word, Your Heart” at the end – a page that includes a tip for memorizing the verse and a space to write your own favorite version (KJV, NKJV, or NIV) of the verse.

I love what Liz Curtis Higgs has to say about Scripture Memorization:

“If you’re ready to give Scripture memorization a go, you’ll see lots of practical ideas and fun tips scattered throughout the book, then collected in the final pages for easy reference…. I know, I know. You don’t have the time. Your memory isn’t what it used to be. You tried before and gave up. You think it’s too hard. I get it. Totally.

Still, here’s what the Bible says: ‘Keep my words and store up my commands within you.’ This isn’t simply the wisdom of King Solomon written to his son. This is the Word of God written for all of us. Keep and store. That’s memorizing Scripture in a nutshell.”

When it comes to memorizing Bible verses, the more you do it, the easier it is. It’s as though you’re exercising a part of your brain and with steady “exercise,” it’ll amaze you with how strong it becomes!

31 Verses to Write on Your Heart is available on Amazon and would make a BEYOND wonderful Mother’s Day or Graduation gift. Actually it’d make a perfect gift for any special lady in your life. You’ll also want your own copy, however.

This beautiful book sits proudly on a shelf on my Inspirational Books bookshelf (keeping company with its sisters – other Liz Curtis Higgs books). However, it doesn’t sit there for long stretches at a time. When I got the book, I used it, daily, as a devotional – memorizing the verses and reading the corresponding words. Today, I often refer back to it to challenge myself with the verses and re-read the chapters for inspiration.

I just did a review of a wonderful new adult coloring book, All You Need is Love… and A Cat on my cat blog, Cat-Pause. I’ve written about adult coloring books on Self Help Daily before. They’re fun, relaxing, and a beautiful way to stay in touch with your creative side.

This book comes with something else I love.. quotes! Each adorable page features a quote along with the picture of a curious, happy, and often mischievous cat – it just doesn’t get any better than that.

Can you believe it’s two months till Christmas?! TWO. How did this happen. It seemed like only yesterday I was dancing around my house celebrating the opening day of baseball. And here I am dancing around celebrating the holidays.

While this book is perfect for cat lovers, it’s also a must read for anyone who loves a great, inspiring read. For that matter, if we’re being completely honest, I can’t think of anyone who wouldn’t enjoy this book.

I’ll be giving you a few “gift idea” heads ups during the coming weeks because, if you’re anything like me, you could use a little extra help thinking during these months. My thoughts get pretty tangled up with all the information flying around inside my head – Thanksgiving pies, Christmas shopping, gift ideas, decorations, Halloween candy, cookies, candy… too many thoughts for one brain.

This particular book would make a great gift idea for any cat lover in your life. Below are a few other books that’d be great gift ideas.

A while back, I was sent a new book to review on my blogs (How to Draw Cool Stuff) and while enjoying the heck out of it, I started thinking about the benefits of creativity on your mental and emotional health. Basically, getting in touch with your creative side (cooking, drawing, gardening, writing, crafting special coffee drinks, painting…) awakens an area in your brain that may have been dormant since art class in the tenth grade.

CNN reports that taking part in creative endeavors protects neuron growth by promoting the production of new neurons – which delays dementia. Put another way, it’s a wake up call to your brain cells – one it needs greatly. Wake up calls such as this, of course, not only keep you sharp – they also help protect you against the various forms of dementia, including Alzheimer’s Disease.

Other Ways Being More Creative is Good For You

Getting in touch with your creative side boosts self-confidence and even self-esteem.

Individuals who eat out of boredom or as a result of inactivity often find that they shave a great number of calories and even lose weight when they take up a creative new hobby.

If your creative new hobby involves learning new things (such as the wonderful art lesson the book pictured below provides), the mental benefits are doubled. Learning new things is the best way to strengthen your brain and ward off mental decline, dementia, and Alzheimer’s.

If it’s been a while since you got in touch with your creative side, I hope you’ll let this serve as a motivating shot in the arm to pick up those pencils, gardening tools, coffee brewing gadgets, or paint brushes.

Your brain will thank you for it.

~ Joi (“Joy”)

Read my How to Draw Cool Stuff Review on my mental fitness blog! It’s a great book for kids and adults – and, trust me, it’s as cool as advertised.

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Guest and/or Sponsored Posts

When you see an article labeled “Articles by Other Authors,” this means the post is either a sponsored post or a post by a freelance writer, looking to build his/her online portfolio. All posts written by me are signed with my name ~ Joi.

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